Not sure $149 Disney After Hrs event is doing well... (ETA: reviews in 1st post)

[Kimberly9701]

Have you ever made a purchase from a store only to find out the next week that it went on sale??? (or.... free, in a buy one get one free scenario) You wouldn't hesitate to take your receipt back for the refund of the difference, would you? It's the same thinking!
I wouldn't hesitate to ask for a refund or discount!

So, if Nordstrom randomly sends me a gift card, you would go ask them for one as well?

That's apples to apples. Not a sale that's available to anyone.

 

[mom2rtk]

Did that happen? I haven't seen any such claim.

No way to know if it happened. But I heard it estimated that there were 1000 people at the first party and that they only sold 300 tickets. So that would mean most of the people got in free.

 

[cindyfan]

So, if Nordstrom randomly sends me a gift card, you would go ask them for one as well?
.

YEP! And I have done that exact thing!

 

[Kimberly9701]

YEP! And I have done that exact thing!

Wow. On what justification?

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

YEP! And I have done that exact thing!

For real??

 

[hopeful4fl]

Buyers beware.
Asking for a refund based on future events that have nothing to do with a decision you made may be turned down. I have NOT seen what they advertised, but if you paid for extra hours thinking you would get low crowds and did, you got what you paid for. If Disney gave away free tickets that you paid for has nothing to do with your experience. Unless you can prove that Disney misrepresented the facts when you bought this event, I see no validity of any claim.
I am not a Disney apologist. I think they are doing an awful job of member satisfaction and overall service. In this case, there is nothing indicating anyone who paid full price for this event should be refunded.

 

[Hikergirl]

Have you ever made a purchase from a store only to find out the next week that it went on sale??? (or.... free, in a buy one get one free scenario) You wouldn't hesitate to take your receipt back for the refund of the difference, would you? It's the same thinking!
I wouldn't hesitate to ask for a refund or discount!

But these free tickets were not offered to everyone, they were given to a select few who got some pixie dust.
Its like going back to the store to get a refund on something that went on sale but only for people whose last name started with an M, and your's starts with an S.

Where does Disney draw the line, do they have to refund everyone that paid, or only those who make the most noise about how its not fair?

 

[mesaboy2]

Did that happen? I haven't seen any such claim.

I did say it was hard to tell. I'll refer you to wdwinfo's own report, http://www.wdwinfo.com/news-stories...-at-disney-after-hours-event-at-magic-kingdom. My supposition is not beyond reason.

But these free tickets were not offered to everyone, they were given to a select few who got some pixie dust.
Its like going back to the store to get a refund on something that went on sale but only for people whose last name started with an M, and your's starts with an S.

Where does Disney draw the line, do they have to refund everyone that paid, or only those who make the most noise about how its not fair?

I think you and I define this differently.

 

[whiporee]

Did that happen? I haven't seen any such claim.

I haven't either. I've seen rumors and innuendos, but I've not seen much proof that a majority -- or even a large percentage of the guests for either night were comped. That might be the case, or it might not, but it certainly seems like it's the narrative that is being adopted at the DIS right now.

I hope it catches on and becomes the norm, especially during the summer. I know the combination of lesser heat and fewer riders could appeal to a lot of people. And if they could keep the crowds at about 10K, I think it could be a great new option for a lot of people attending MK.

 

[cindyfan]

Wow. On what justification?

Customer service! When asked why they got one and not me they couldn't give me a justifiable answer.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

Customer service! When asked why they got one and not me they couldn't give me a justifiable answer.

This is honestly incredible to me!! Take this to an extreme, and a gift certificate would have to be given to every American. Why stop there?! Why not issue them to the 7+ billion people on the planet!? I mean, there would be no good reason not to...

 

[Kimberly9701]

Customer service! When asked why they got one and not me they couldn't give me a justifiable answer.

They do NOT need to justify their actions. It is THEIR business. They do not owe you anything beyond whatever it is that you decide to purchase.

This is crazy.

I don't know what you do for a living, but why would any business agree to do that? There is no logic in it. There is absolutely no business sense in it. If someone is the benefactor of an "extra" it has nothing to do with you, and they do not owe you the same.

 

[Kimberly9701]

I haven't either. I've seen rumors and innuendos, but I've not seen much proof that a majority -- or even a large percentage of the guests for either night were comped. That might be the case, or it might not, but it certainly seems like it's the narrative that is being adopted at the DIS right now.

I hope it catches on and becomes the norm, especially during the summer. I know the combination of lesser heat and fewer rides could appeal to a lot of people. And if they could keep the crowds at about 10K, I think it could be a great new option for a lot of people attending MK.

Exactly.

This is honestly incredible to me!! Take this to an extreme, and a gift certificate would have to be given to every American. Why stop there?! Why not issue them to the 7+ billion people on the planet!? I mean, there would be no good reason not to...

Exactly.

 

[Kimberly9701]

 

[Mikie]

Do you know what kind of economics would result in a business refunding people for frivolous reasons?

That business would cease to exist. Ok this the worst case scenario.
Best case- prices raise across the board due to that kind of negligent business practice.

Bernie Sanders has that kind of business logic though..so I guess people see economics differently.

Did that happen? I haven't seen any such claim.

As @mesaboy2 implied above, there is credible speculation that the number of free tickets was at least as many, if not more than, the number of sold tickets. It is not essential in my mind that it be true for the reasonableness of requesting a refund/discount, BUT it does enhance the claim. If the majority of ticket-holders paid $0 for something and the most recent ticket-holders paid $0, then the "going rate" for those tickets can be seen as $0. Everyone who has ever met me would laugh at the comparison between my own philosophies and Bernie Sanders. My husband literally fell off the couch laughing. Perhaps the "free" part is the hangup. Had it been sold at $150 for 2 weeks and then sold at $100 for the last few days, perhaps the request for a discount wouldn't seem as strange to you as the request for a reduction all the way down to free.

YEP! And I have done that exact thing!

I am genuinely gobsmacked that others have not experienced this kind of thing. Macy's has coupons nearly every day of the year. If I didn't get one, or forgot to bring it with me, I can ASK them if they have one for me to use - and they say YES. The business has OFFERED something to someone else and I ASK whether I can participate as well. They may say no. They may say "those are for our Platinum members only". They may say we're only offering them to the first half of the alphabet today. To which I would say, OK and buy my things and be on my way. However, they MIGHT say - sure! I would be happy. I would have the warm fuzzies about Macy's and I might be that much more loyal a customer.

In the case of DAH, a lot of folks are guessing that Disney wants the word to get out through positive reviews. A possible, sound business reason for accepting a request to refund a ticket would be to enhance their customer service reputation and sweeten the pot on their chances of positive reviews. Companies also sometimes offer "loss leaders" to get you into the store. They might sell something desirable at no profit or even a loss in hopes that you associate them with low prices overall, or that you buy lots of other things that have good profit margins. There are many, MANY reasons why a business engages in a particular transaction that may not be as simple as maximum profit on that one transaction.

To all those who've been sucked down this conversational pit - my apologies!! I swear I'll stop!!

 

[bcrook]

I haven't either. I've seen rumors and innuendos, but I've not seen much proof that a majority -- or even a large percentage of the guests for either night were comped. That might be the case, or it might not, but it certainly seems like it's the narrative that is being adopted at the DIS right now.

I hope it catches on and becomes the norm, especially during the summer. I know the combination of lesser heat and fewer rides could appeal to a lot of people. And if they could keep the crowds at about 10K, I think it could be a great new option for a lot of people attending MK.

What you are describing is the old 3 hour Evening Extra Magic Hours. And it was great. And it was included with a $79.99 room. And Disney still made billions of dollars of profit. It made millions of people happy every year.

And when they cut that third hour, it destroyed the magic. Now it looks like they want to create it at a staggering high cost to the customer.

 

[Kimberly9701]

As @mesaboy2 implied above, there is credible speculation that the number of free tickets was at least as many, if not more than, the number of sold tickets. It is not essential in my mind that it be true for the reasonableness of requesting a refund/discount, BUT it does enhance the claim. If the majority of ticket-holders paid $0 for something and the most recent ticket-holders paid $0, then the "going rate" for those tickets can be seen as $0. Everyone who has ever met me would laugh at the comparison between my own philosophies and Bernie Sanders. My husband literally fell off the couch laughing. Perhaps the "free" part is the hangup. Had it been sold at $150 for 2 weeks and then sold at $100 for the last few days, perhaps the request for a discount wouldn't seem as strange to you as the request for a reduction all the way down to free.



I am genuinely gobsmacked that others have not experienced this kind of thing. Macy's has coupons nearly every day of the year. If I didn't get one, or forgot to bring it with me, I can ASK them if they have one for me to use - and they say YES. The business has OFFERED something to someone else and I ASK whether I can participate as well. They may say no. They may say "those are for our Platinum members only". They may say we're only offering them to the first half of the alphabet today. To which I would say, OK and buy my things and be on my way. However, they MIGHT say - sure! I would be happy. I would have the warm fuzzies about Macy's and I might be that much more loyal a customer.

In the case of DAH, a lot of folks are guessing that Disney wants the word to get out through positive reviews. A possible, sound business reason for accepting a request to refund a ticket would be to enhance their customer service reputation and sweeten the pot on their chances of positive reviews. Companies also sometimes offer "loss leaders" to get you into the store. They might sell something desirable at no profit or even a loss in hopes that you associate them with low prices overall, or that you buy lots of other things that have good profit margins. There are many, MANY reasons why a business engages in a particular transaction that may not be as simple as maximum profit on that one transaction.

To all those who've been sucked down this conversational pit - my apologies!! I swear I'll stop!!

Once again you are not comparing apples to apples.

Free tickets were not advertised. They were given to select people.

Macy's coupons are COUPONS.
Not a gift certificate for a certain person.

We are miles apart on our sense of business and what people are entitled to.

Good luck in asking for refunds for a service that you received..
A refund that you claim is due because someone else received something special..
Not because something was advertised...
Not because you didn't get what you paid for..
but solely because you think that they owe you.

 

[Kimberly9701]

What you are describing is the old 3 hour Evening Extra Magic Hours. And it was great. And it was included with a $79.99 room. And Disney still made billions of dollars of profit. It made millions of people happy every year.

And when they cut that third hour, it destroyed the magic. Now it looks like they want to create it at a staggering high cost to the customer.

Once upon a time gas cost 99 cents..

Omg when does it stop.

Some people still love Disney. Some of us still feel it's magical.

If you don't, then don't go. But why spread so much negativity?

 

[nicko]

Once upon a time gas cost 99 cents..

Omg when does it stop.

Some people still love Disney. Some of us still feel it's magical.

If you don't, then don't go. But why spread so much negativity?

Maybe because it's discussion board? It's not a "we all think everything WDW offers is awesome" board.

I suspect that many of the folks "spreading negativity" are huge fans of WDW and they are frustrated to see the vacation destination they have loved for many years on a decline. So much so that they are contemplating giving up WDW even though going there has been a family tradition for many years.

 

[Kimberly9701]

Maybe because it's discussion board? It's not a "we all think everything WDW offers is awesome" board.

I suspect that many of the folks "spreading negativity" are huge fans of WDW and they are frustrated to see the vacation destination they have loved for many years on a decline. So much so that they are contemplating giving up WDW even though going there has been a family tradition for many years.

I waited forever for DCL to release their summer 2017 11 night Norwegian Fjords/Iceland cruise..

Finally it came time for platinum to book!! I stalked the message boards looking for quotes so I could book the next day when offered to the public.

I watched such insane numbers I was completely in disbelief. I mean seriously, I just couldn't believe it.
The next morning I woke up earlier to check for myself.. Yep, there it was..
For me and my 6 year old to take said cruise.. In a standard room- over $13,300..
For 2 people. Standard room.

I was shocked, disgusted, and then shocked and disgusted some more.

I don't see any justification for these prices, that same itinerary this year did not sell well.

Sure, people booked that cruise, and I hope they have fun. There is NO value in that pricing for me though. So- I chose a different cruise line for me and my son for that itinerary.

Do I hate DCL now? Nope. We're going on the Fantasy in November.

Was I flabbergasted that they have such a disproportionate price on the Iceland itinerary? Sure.

You can choose to be bitter or you can just make other plans that suit your perceived value better. I chose the latter.